日本の怪談　（Nihon no Kaidan）ーJapanese ghost story

27th March – 弥生

The theme for 27th every month is Japanese ghost story, today’s topic is about good ghosts believed in Japan.

1. 座敷童 (Zashikiwarashi)

Little kids ghosts seen often in Iwate prefecture. This ghosts come to the old houses and storage then stay that places. Zashikiwarashi do mischief to people in order to surprise them. The house owner will be promoted in their job and become rich, so Zashikiwarashi is believed to bring happiness to them. Also if anybody see Zashikiwarashi, it has the same effect to them too, so many people try to reserve the hotels where sometimes Zashikiwarashi have seen. 緑風荘 (Ruoku-Fuu-Sou) is the most famous Zashikiwarashi hotel, many visitors who saw Zashikiwarashi there has become rich and happy, according to the reviews. On the other hand, if Zashikiwarashi left the house, the owner family will be unlucky and go obsolete, so it is important for them to keep Zashikiwarashi at home. Before Zashikiwarashi leave the house, they show up with red clothes, so it is the sign house owner need to prepare for the collapse.

2. 山男 (Yama-Otoko)

Huge man lives in the mountain. Had seen in many mountains in Japan.

Yamaotoko looks scary but actually this monster helps people for hunting, helps lost human in the mountains to go back to their village, sometimes work for human too. Yamaotoko only appears when there is only one person. Yamaotoko is believed to like Sake, and even just a little reward makes them work for human well – for example, some hard tasks like carrying heavy woods, materials. Yamaotoko cannot speak human language, however they are clever so they try to communicate with gesture.

3. 小豆洗い(Azuki Arai)

Their appearance is similar to monk, very short height and have huge eyes. They look smiling while washing 小豆(Azuki-red beans) on the riverside.

Azuki Arai sometimes only makes noise of washing red beans and people cannot see them. In some area, it is believed that if the mother who have daughter see Azuki Arai, their daughter will have a good engagement. However, on the other hand, some areas have unlucky story that if people see Azuki Arai and he beckons them, they will sink into the river and drawn.

4. 金霊 (Kanadama)

This ghost is the gathering of shining lights just look alike the brilliance of gold coins. This lights is believed to come from the sky and go into the house window. This ghosts only come into the good person’s house, who does good deed. That house will become very rich instantly and if the owner turned to be selfish and greedy, this ghosts will run away and house will obsolete, therefore it is always better to be humble and nice to others!

Hope only nice ghosts like them come to you to bring good lucks and happiness!:)